Cover for a bolt and nut

Abstract

A one-piece, reuseable cover is provided for an assembly of a threaded bolt and an associated annular nut, wherein a portion of the bolt extends through the nut. The cover includes a closed top end portion and a generally cylindrical sidewall extending from the closed top end portion so as to define a generally hollow cavity within the cover. Within the cavity of the cover is located an internally threaded portion, the threads of which are adapted to mate with the external threads on the bolt, so that the cover may be attached to the portion of the bolt that extends through its associated nut by threaded engagement therewith, when the cover is installed over the bolt and nut assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A one-piece, reusable cover for an assembly of a threaded bolt and an associated annular nut, wherein a portion of the bolt extends through the nut, said cover comprising: (a) a closed top end portion; and   (b) a generally cylindrical sidewall extending from the closed top end portion so as to define a generally hollow cavity within the cover, wherein the exterior of the sidewall includes a plurality of adjacent planar surfaces and   (c) an internally threaded portion which extends into the cavity of the cover from an interior surface of the top end portion, which internally threaded portion is supported by a plurality of stiffening ribs extending inwardly from one or more inner surfaces of the sidewall, wherein a stiffening rib is provided at each intersection of adjacent planar surfaces; wherein the threads of the internally threaded portion are adapted to mate with external threads on the bolt, so that the cover may be attached to the portion of the bolt that extends through its associated nut by threaded engagement therewith, when the cover is installed over the bolt and nut assembly.   
     
     
       2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the closed top end portion is generally dome-shaped. 
     
     
       3. The cover of claim 1, wherein the sidewall extends from the top end portion a greater distance than does the internally threaded portion from an interior surface of the top end portion, so that when the cover is installed over the bolt and nut assembly, the sidewall encloses at least a portion of the nut. 
     
     
       4. The cover of claim 3, wherein the sidewall is of sufficient dimension so as to fully enclose the bolt and nut assembly when the cover is threaded onto the portion of the bolt that extends through the nut. 
     
     
       5. The cover of claim 3, wherein the end of the internally threaded portion located away from the top end portion abuts a surface of the nut when the cover is installed over the bolt and nut assembly. 
     
     
       6. The cover of claim 1, wherein the sidewall includes six planar surfaces in a generally hexagonal arrangement. 
     
     
       7. The cover of claim 1, which is molded from a rigid plastic material. 
     
     
       8. The cover of claim 7, the exterior surface of which is chrome-plated. 
     
     
       9. A one-piece, removable cover for an assembly of a bolt and an associated annular nut, wherein a portion of the bolt extends through the nut, and wherein a plurality of said bolt and nut assemblies are used to mount a wheel to a vehicle, said cover comprising: (a) a closed top end portion; and   (b) a generally cylindrical sidewall extending from the closed top end portion so as to define a generally hollow cavity within the cover, wherein the exterior of the sidewall includes a plurality of adjacent planar surfaces and   (c) an internally threaded portion which extends into the cavity of the cover from an interior surface of the top end portion, which internally threaded portion is supported by a plurality of stiffening ribs extending inwardly from one or more inner surfaces of the sidewall, wherein a stiffening rib is provided at each intersection of adjacent planar surfaces; wherein the threads of the internally threaded portion are adapted to mate with external threads on the bolt, so that the cover may be attached to the portion of the bolt that extends through its associated nut by threaded engagement therewith; and   wherein the sidewall is of sufficient dimension so as to enclose substantially all of the bolt and nut assembly when the cover is threaded onto the portion of the bolt that extends through the nut.     
     
     
       10. The cover of claim 9, wherein the sidewall terminates in a base adapted for abutting the wheel. 
     
     
       11. The cover of claim 9, wherein the sidewall terminates in a base adapted for abutting a wheel cover. 
     
     
       12. The cover of claim 9, wherein the closed top end portion is generally dome-shaped. 
     
     
       13. The cover of claim 9, wherein the end of the internally threaded portion located away from the top end portion abuts a surface of the nut when the cover is installed over the bolt and nut assembly. 
     
     
       14. The cover of claim 9, wherein the sidewall includes six planar surfaces in a generally hexagonal arrangement. 
     
     
       15. The cover of claim 9, which is molded from a rigid plastic material. 
     
     
       16. The cover of claim 9, the exterior surface of which is chrome-plated.